NBRPA HOSTS FULL COURT PRESS IN CHICAGO

November 15, 2016

The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) brought its Full Court Press: Prep For Success program to Chicago, Illinois at the Chicago Police Training Facility on Saturday, November 12 along with partners Jr. NBA, the Chicago Police Athletic League Chapter (PAL), Wintrust Bank and Strategies for Youth.

Legends participating in the clinic included Kenny Gattison, Emmette Bryant, Kenny Battle, Jeff Sanders and Bill Wennington. The former players spent the day providing basketball instruction through the Jr. NBA curriculum, while the NBRPA’s partners taught the kids in the classroom about life lessons.

“I hope the kids were able to understand that there are different aspects of life and we give them a chance to see something else,” said Bill Wennington. “When they meet players in person who can teach them that there are things beyond the distractions on the street, it shows them that they have other opportunities to focus on.”

Off the court, Wintrust representatives used an interactive Q&A to educate the kids with financial planning games to keep the mood lively throughout the day. The Chicago PAL, led by retired police officer and community leader Marco Johnson, implemented its Stomping Out Gangs and Drugs program where police officers spoke to the kids about community safety and how best to utilize the community police officers. The kids also had the chance to drive a computer based police car and listen to their passenger give directions.

An additional classroom session divided kids into two groups and had them compete against each other in a game of “Juvenile Justice Jeopardy”.

Once again, the day was a resounding success and not both the kids and the former players came away gleaming about the Full Court Press clinic.“It was great just being involved with all of the kids from all parts of the city who did not have to worry about which street not to cross or whether they could wear their cap backwards,” said Emmette Bryant. “The Full Court Press clinic is always a fun day.”

About the National Basketball Retired Players Association
The National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) is comprised of former professional basketball players from the NBA, ABA, WNBA and Harlem Globetrotters. It is a 501(c) 3 organization with a mission to develop, implement and advocate a wide array of programs to benefit its members, supporters and the community. The NBRPA was founded in 1992 by basketball legends Dave DeBusschere, Dave Bing, Archie Clark, Dave Cowens and Oscar Robertson. The NBRPA works in direct partnerships with the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association. Arnie D. Fielkow is the President and CEO, and the NBRPA Board of Directors includes Chairman of the Board Thurl Bailey, Vice Chairman Dwight Davis, Treasurer Eldridge Recasner, Secretary Nancy Lieberman, Rick Barry, James Donaldson, Mike Glenn, Spencer Haywood, LaRue Martin Jr., David Naves, Johnny Newman and Casey Shaw.